Make Citizen Voices Matter
Activists like you are making energy efficiency and alternative energies top priority solutions to global warming. Did you know a county’s land use plan is a solution too?
Vehicle emissions make up 1/3 of the global warming pollution we put in the air. The structure of our towns, cities and society forces us into traffic and excess miles traveled everyday just to get to work or do simple weekend errands. So, the way our towns and cities grow could be a big part of the solution.
If we want efficient, cheap transportation choices that help drop global warming pollution levels we need to support smarter development in our states and end sprawling, status quo growth.
Land use plans (in most counties called Comprehensive Plans or Master Plans) can give us smarter growth and reduce global warming. But there’s a hitch! The Maryland Court of Appeals recently decided that counties don’t have to follow their plans. A good plan can be thrown out at the whim of a developer, no matter how far you have to drive daily just to live there. On top of the damage more pollution will do, this ruling takes away citizens’ rights to choose how their community grows. This is a huge obstacle to fighting global warming.
Help us stop global warming by fighting for smarter development in our state. Learn more about our petition and sign!
Many thanks to CCAN for giving 1000 Friends of Maryland this guest spot on your blog.
